Stand-up container



June 29, 1965 R. s. scHUL'rz ETAL 3,191,806

STAND-UP CONTAINER Filed Oct. 30. 1965 Ha J. f y@ ZZ /J 27 @l /Z/ if /i g 7"? i, \/d g, 4f/ ff Vhaving very little base area.

United States Patent O 3,191,866 STAND-Ul CNTAINER Robert Stephen Schultz, Somerviile, and Arvid Kjellsen Grinlsley, Roclaaway, NJ., assignors to American Can Company, New York, NX., a corporation of New .ersey Filed Oct. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 320,021 Claims. (Cl. 222-41) This invention relates to a container capable of standing upright or erect while on display or when not in use. More particularly, this invention is concerned with a collapsible dispensing tube having pedestal means at its discharge end for supporting it in upright position, which pedestal means also function to ensure positive closure of the tube when placed in its upright position.

Collapsible tubes presently enjoy great popularity for packing a wide variety of consumer products, including comestibles, cosmetics, medicaments, toiletries, detergents, etc. Unlike other types of containers, such as fibre cartons, metal cans and glass or plastic bottles and lars which have a at base for convenient placement on a shelf or table, collapsible tubes generally are fabricated with some type of neck or dispensing device at one end and closed at the other by a transverse seam or seal As a consequence, collapsible tubes are not longitudinally stable or capable of standing erect and customarily are vended either in rectangular cartons or placed on their sides in a prone position on display counters. This characteristic has several disadvantages among which are low shelf space economy, less elfective display beth from the standpoint or" orderly shelf arrangement and the placement of product and origin labels, and increased package cost where the tubes are placed in outer cartons. There are disadvantages to the consumer, too, since it is necessary, between product usage, to place the tube prone in its storage area which takes up far more space than standing it erect as is the case with most other household product packages.

An object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible tube capable of standing erect While on display and between intervals of product usage.

Another object of this invention is to provide a collapsible tube having integral means for supporting it in erect position as a stand-up container.

Still another object of this invention is the provision on a collapsible tube of pedestal means for supporting it in an erect position, which means also functions to ensure that the tube closure is fully sealed when not in use.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent Jfrom the following description which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

FlGURE l is a side elevational View, partly broken away, of a collapsible tube embodying our invention and shown in use as a stand-up container.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the pedestal end of the tube of FIGURE 1, illustrating its closure device in open position, with the dispensing end disposed uppermost.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 2, illustratingr the closure device in closed position.

FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 are sectional views taken along lines 4 4, 5 5 and 6 6, respectively, of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view illustrating a modified form of a dispensing device usable in our invention.

A preferred or exemplary form of our invention is illustrated in FIGURE l and is shown standing on a dat surface, or table top S, in its intended erect or stand-up position. This collapsible tube comprises a tubular body "ice lil, an apertured headpiece generally designated il and a dispensing device generally designated l2, including a closure means hereinafter described, mounted in the headpiece. The collapsible tube may be constructed of metallic or thermoplastic material, or may be made of a combination of material suitable for squeeae-to-use tube containers. For example, body l@ may be a laminate of two or more layers of plastic, foil or paper, and headpiece 11 may be made entirely of plastic and integrally united to the body in a Well known manner, such as taught in the U.S. Patent 2,673,374 to Strahm. The end of the tube opposite to the headpiece 11 is customarily closed after product tiling by means of a transverse seam or seal i3, formed by pinching the tube walls together at this end under heat and pressure or by other ways of achieving a permanent fluid-tight seal. Formed in this manner, the base area of seam EL3 is quite small and distributed solely along a diametral line; consequently, the tube is longitudinally unstable and incapable of standing erect on this permanently sealed end.

Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the structural features of our novel tube giving it stand-up capability areshown in detail. Headpiece il, shown integrally connected to body 1? in a fused or welded joint id, comprises a transversal Wall l5, a hollow sleeve i6 centered in wall l5 over a central aperture 17, and an annular peripheral Wall 1S which extends upwardly from transversal wall i5 to define therewith a recessed end, which peripheral Wall provides the pedestal means by which the tube can be stood erect.

Dispensing device l2 is illustrated, in its exemplary form, as a push-pull closure which includes the hollow sleeve le and a plunger 19 slidably mounted Within the sleeve for operation between an open and closed position (FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, respectively). Transversal wall l5 extends inwardly beyond the inside diameter of sleeve lo to provide an annular bead or sealing ange i511, the inner surface of which defines aperture I7. Flange a and sleeve i6 define a chamber 2d within which the plunger 19 is movable between its open and closed pos1tion.

The upper end of the plunger is constructed with an enlarged section wa which overlies and is adapted to seat against the upper edge of sleeve i6. Below this enlargement, the plunger includes a section i9!) which slidably engages the inner surface of sleeve le, an imperforate section 1.9: adapted to slidably seal aperture i? when the plunger is in closed position (FIG. 3), and an inner section 19d which extends through the aperture into the `interior of thc tube.

Section 1%, which is dimensioned to tightly slidably seal chamber 26 against egress of product, is provided with a pair of passages 21, 21 which merge into a single ldischarge passage 22 extending through the upper enlarged section These passages, separated by a thin wall 1.915 which provides the integral connection between sections 1% and dus, are in constant communication with chamber 2l) by means of a pair of radial ports 23, 23,`

which are but the lowermost ends of passages 2l, 21 at the point of discontinuity between section 1% and imperfor-ate section 19e. This construction is best illustrated in section in FIGURES 4 and 5.

As illustrated, imp-erforate section 19C is slightly smaller in diameter than the outer surface of section 1%, and is adapted to slide tightly into and seal aperture 17. Section l9d, below the imperforate section, however, also is provided with a pair of passages 24, 24 separated by a thin Web 19d similar to the arrangement above described for section 19h. A stop lug or rib 25 is provided near the innermost end of section @d of the plunger and is adapted to engage against the inner surface of its sealing engagement within aperture 17 and passages 24, 24 are brought into communication with chamber 20,

Athereby allowing 4the product to be dispensed to passfrom the interior'of the container through passages 24, 24 into chamber 29 around imperforate section 19e and then out through ports 23, 213, passages 21, 21 and passage 22. When. plunger 19 is again pressed down to its closed position, imperforate section moves in to block aperture 17, and lower passages 24, 24 move out of communication with chamber Ztl. Simultaneously, the lower surface of enlarged section 19a comes to rest against the upper edge of sleeve 16 to properly position imperforate section 19C within the aperture.

As best illustrated in FIG. 3, the longitudinal position of the closure plunger 19 when closed has an important relationship to the height of the upstanding peripheral wall 1S. That is, the height of sleeve 16 and the position of enlarged section 19a. when it rests on the upper edge of sleeve 16 are such that the outer tip end A of the plunger substantially coincides with the plane of the upper edge B of peripheral wall 18. Preferably, plunger 19 is constructed so that tip A, rather than exactly coinciding with the plane of edge B, actually extends slightly beyond a few thousands of an inch. The reason for this is so that when the tube is inverted and stood erect on a flat surface, such as a shelf or counter surface S as illustrated in FIG. 1, tip A also makes contact with this surface which forces plunger 19 into its properly closed and sealed position. This ensures a positive closure of the plunger, regardless of any dimensional irregularities in the plunger or headpiece parts due to fabrication tolerances, shrinkage or wear. The amount that tip A extends beyond edge B, however, is not so great as to cause the tube to tip over. Rather, it extend-s just enough to always compensate for predictable dimensional irregularities, which as a practical matter are never so great that the slight amount of tip extension cannot be absorbed or compensated for by the ability of transversal wall 15 to yield and flex inwardly slightly when tip A and-edge B rest against surface S. Should the consumer inadvertently leave plunger `19 in its up or open position after use, tip A in this instance extends sufciently beyond edge B as to cause the tube to -tilt to a noticeable extent or tip over, thus providing a warning that the plunger is not properly closed.

As illustrated, peripheral wall 18 is arcuate in crosssection and flares upwardly and outwardly from transversal wall 15 in what may be described as a bell-shaped configuration. At present, this is the preferred arrangement, but it is envisaged that various modifications may be introduced to achieve different aesthetic effects. For example, wall 18 need not be continuous but m-ay take the form of a plurality of space lingers or legs, or the upper edge E may be fluted or petal shaped instead of planar as shown.

Turning now to FIG. 7, there is illustrated a modified form of dispensing closure generally designated 112, adaptable to our invention. Similar in structure and function to the arrangement described above, this modified closure comprises sleeve 116 formed integrally with transversal wall 115 of the headpiece, which wall extends radially inwardly in the form of ananular bead or ange 115:1 to define an aperture 117. The upper end of sleeve 116 may be provided with an inturned flange 116a at the top of the chamber 120 defined .by the sleeve and lbottom liange 115m Slidably movable between an open l and closed position within sleeve 116 is a plunger generally designated 119, comprising `an upper enlarged section 119:1 which over-lies and is adapted to seat upon the upper edge of sleeve 11e and iiange 116er, a stem section 119i) depending into the chamber and having a passage 122 in its outer surface which extends upwardly through enlarged section 11%, an imperforate section 119C adapted to slide in and out of sealing engagement with aperture ange g, and an innermost section 119:1 having a passage 124 in constant communication with the interior of the container and having a stop bead orlug 125 formed at its lower end for limiting the upward movement of the plunger. To open the valve, pluger 119 is .lifted to remove imperforate section 119e from aperture 117 and raise passage 124 into communication with chamber 120, thereby enabling product to flow out through passage 122 which is in constant communication with chamber 120. Flange 1-16a sealingly engages the periphery of stem section 11% and blocks egress of the product at the top of the chamber. As with the previously described embodiment, upper surface or tip A of plunger 119 substantially coincides with edge B of the surrounding pedestal wall .11S to ensure that the valve is fully closed when the tube is stood in its erect position.

It is contemplated that other closure configurations, of the push-pull type as herein illustrated as well as threaded closures and swivel closures, may be used in our invention. These and other embodiments and modifications Will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art deemed to be within the spirit and scope of our invention.

We claim:

1. A stand-up collapsible tube having a support pedestal a-t its discharge end, comprising a tubular body sealed at one end, a headpiece integral with the opposite discharge end of said body, and a dispensing device operable between an open and closed position mounted in said headpiece, said headpiece including a transversal apertured wall overlying said discharge end and an axial- .ly projecting peripheral Wall as said pedestal terminating in a planar edge spaced a predetermined distance from said transversal wall, said dispensing device including a hollow valve body centered over the aperture in and integral with said transversal wall and a valve closure slidable in said body between open and closed position, said closure terminating in an end surface outwardly of said transversal wall, which surface is adapted to project substantially beyond said planar edge when in open position and to substantially coincide with said planar edge when in closed position.

2. The tube of claim 1 wherein said body defines a cylindrical chamber and said closure is a slidable plunger having an upper portion slidably sealing said chamber with a passage therein in constant communication with said chamber, an imperforate intermediate portion slidable in and out of sealing engagement with said aperture, and a lower portion extending through said aperture with a passage therein in constant communication rwith the interior of said tube and adapted to communicate with said chamber when said plunger is raised to open position.

3. The tube of claim 1 wherein said body denes a cylindrical chamber and said closure is a slidable plunger having a passaged enlargementoverlying and seatable on said body and also having a hollow stem extending through said chamber and said aperture, said stem having a diameter less than said chamber and substantially equal to said aperture, a portion of said stern directly below said enlargement having an axial groove on its outer surface aligned with and communicating with the passage in said enlargement and with said chamber, and an innermostportion of said stem having a passage in constant communication with the interior of said tube and adapted to communicate with said chamber when Said plunger is raised to open posit-ion.

4. A stand-up container having a support pedestal at its discharge end, comprising a tubular body, a headpiece integral with the discharge end of said body, and a dispensing closure mounted in sa-id headpiece, said headpiece including a transversal apertured Wall centrally mounting said closure and an axially projecting wall as said pedestal extending from the periphery of said transversal Wall and terminating in a planar peripheral edge spaced a predetermined distance from said transversal Wall, said closure including a passaged neck positioned wholly within said pedestal and a neck-sealing member normally closing said neck and adapted to be moved relative to said neck to open same for egress of product, said member being movable to a position substantially within said pedestal with the outermost extremity of said member substantially coinciding with the plane of said peripheral edge of said pedestal to ensure positive closure when said container is stood erect and being movable outwardly from said plane when not in fully closed position to cause a tilting of said container as an indicator of an incomplete closure.

5. The container of claim 4 wherein said sealing member is axially movable relative to said neck and includes a projecting spout portion movable to a normally closed position slightly beyond the plane of said pedestal edge insucient to cause tilting of said container and to an open position substantially beyond said edge suicient to cause tilting.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1, 129,449 2/ 15 Bussey 222-495 X 1,562,005 11/25 Seltmann 222-105 1,910,032 5/33 Mills 222-105 2,016,037 10/ 35 Gruber 222-493 2,609,122 9/ 52 Stenerson 222-105 2,681,170 6/ 54 Elliot 222-495 3,010,611 11/61 Brown 222-493 X 3,107,829 10/ 63 Makowski 222-493 X 20 RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primm Examiner. 

4. A STAND-UP CONTAINER HAVING A SUPPORT PEDESTAL AT ITS DISCHARGE END, COMPRISING A TUBULAR BODY, A HEADPIECE INTEGRAL WITH THE DISCHARGE END OF SAID BODY, AND A DISPENSING CLOSURE MOUNTED IN SAID HEADPIECE, SAID HEADPIECE INCLUDING A TRANSVERSAL APERTURED WALL CENTRALLY MOUNTING SAID CLOSURE AND AN AXIALLY PROJECTING WALL AS SAID PEDESTAL EXTENDING FROM THE PERIPHERY OF SAID TRANSVERSAL WALL AND TERMINATING IN A PLANAR PERIPHERAL EDGE SPACED A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE FROM SAID TRANSVERSAL WALL, SAID CLOSURE INCLUDING A PASSAGED NECK POSITIONED WHOLLY WITHIN SAID PEDESTAL AND A NECK-SEALING MEMBER NORMALLY CLOSING SAID NECK AND ADAPTED TO BE MOVED RELATIVE TO SAID NECK TO OPEN SAME FOR EGRESS OF PRODUCT, SAID MEMBER BEING MOVABLE TO A POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY WITHIN SAID PEDESTAL WITH THE OUTERMOST EXTREMITY OF SAID MEMBER SUBSTANTIALLY COINCIDING WITH THE PLANE OF SAID PERIPHERAL EDGE OF SAID PEDESTAL TO ENSURE POSITIVE CLOSURE WHEN SAID CONTAINER IS STOOD ERECT AND BEING MOVABLE OUTWARDLY FROM SAID PLANE WHEN NOT IN FULLY CLOSED POSITION TO CAUSE A TILTING OF SAID CONTAINER AS AN INDICATOR OF AN INCOMPLETE CLOSURE. 